Support our troops.
It's a phrase I've heard from both sides of the political aisle. Some say it, and what they mean is, "Stop criticizing the war and get behind this cause." Others say it and mean, "This war is a bad idea and we need to bring these soldiers home."

Both sides argue they are supporting our troops, and I wouldn't dare tell them they are wrong. But I spoke to a man the other day who has found another way to support our troops. He's planning to hop on a bicycle and ride clear across the country.
His name is Daniel Forant, and at this very moment his 18-year-old son is somewhere west of Baghdad. Daniel Forant III is a local boy, born and raised in Cohoes - an Army infantryman who is a long way from home.
Like a lot of men and women in uniform, he would feel a million miles away if not for the letters and packages that arrive from the Capital District. That's where his dad comes in.
Last August, Daniel Sr. wanted to show his support for his son, so he set up a little Web site.
It had pictures and postings he could share with his friends and relatives. Pretty soon people started sharing the site, and before long, Dan had other parents asking if they could include their son or daughter on the site. Dan said yes, and not long after he changed the name of the Web site to www.supportourtroopsiniraq.com.
"We were truly amazed at how this grew," Dan said. "It started out being just about my son, but now there are over 100 servicemen and women being honored."
And it didn't stop there. When Dan heard that the troops in Iraq needed little "reminders" from home, he quickly put together a donation campaign. Before long he had more than 5,000 pounds of goods. "Personal hygiene items are the most popular," he told me. With all that sand blowing in the wind, it's all the troops can do to keep their eyes and ears clean.
Dan has received help from all over the country. There's the eighth grade class in Pontdulac, Wisconsin, which filled 22 boxes with board games and books. And let's not forget the workers at Louisville Power and Electric, who wrote 600 Christmas cards and letters for the soldiers over the holidays. And now the bike ride.
Dan Forant has this crazy idea that he can ride a bicycle from Albany to Hollywood, in an effort to raise money for our troops. If he can get people to donate just one penny for every three miles he peddles, that works out to roughly 20 bucks per pledge. His goal is to raise $50,000. My question to him: Can a 39-year-old financial marketer who only jogs three days a week get on a bike and ride more than 2,000 miles? He thinks so.
Dan will start this difficult personal journey March 1. If he can pound out 60 to 70 miles per day, he'll reach Hollywood in six weeks. What about work? Dan says he'll bring along his laptop computer and plug in where he can.
Whenever I see people doing things like this, I wonder if it's all just a publicity stunt. While Dan would love publicity, he says it's not about that. It's about one man who's proud of his son and wants to show it by making his own sacrifice.
"Imagine if we raise a lot of money and we are able to go to a family that has lost a child over there and hand them a check for $5,000. We could tell them this is from people who have not forgotten your loss."
It's thoughts like that that will drive him. One mile, one penny at a time.

Iraqis, U.S. authorities look to U.N.: "Iraqi leaders and U.S. authorities hope next week's meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will help resolve the impasse over a Shiite Muslim leader's objections to key parts of an American-backed political plan for Iraq."

Iraqis, U.S. Authorities Look to U.N.: "Iraqi leaders and U.S. authorities hope next week's meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will help resolve the impasse over a Shiite Muslim leader's objections to key parts of an American-backed political plan for Iraq. (AP)"

Israel shuts Gaza Strip after bombing: "Israel shut down the Gaza Strip on Thursday after a female Palestinian bomber killed four Israelis at a Gaza crossing - the first time the Islamic militant group Hamas sent a woman on a suicide mission."

Pentagon: Suicides of U.S. Troops Rising in Iraq: "At least 21 U.S. troops havecommitted suicide in Iraq, a growing toll that represents oneof every seven American "non-hostile" deaths since the warbegan last March, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. (Reuters)"

Dan's Iraq Report: Jan 15/04: "Welcome! Our goal is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Today's briefing is brought to you by Dan Darling of Regnum Crucis . TOP TOPICS * Former Clinton NSC official Ken Pollack takes a look at what happened to Iraq's WMDs in a lengthy Atlantic Magazine article that should serve as required reading for everyone involved in both sides of the debate. * Joe takes a look at the importance of understanding tribes when it comes to dealing with the Iraqi insurgents. In a related post, Art of Peace looks at the tribal dynamics behind the situation in Fallujah . * The troops are still there. So is the (UPDATED) Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops . That means American, Australian, British, Canadian and Polish troops... not to mention Iraqi and Afghan children. [updated January 15, 2004] Other Topics Today Include: Rundown of attacks and counterattacks; Ba'ath Poker updates; Saddam a POW; New use for Saddam statues; Syria to return cash; No early elections; Germans noticing progress; More tests on mortar shells; The 'shipped to Syria' issue. Read The Rest..."

The F.B.I. director, Robert S. Mueller III, said on Wednesday that terrorists would "quite probably" strike the United States again and that Al Qaeda remained a major threat despite the lowering of the nation's threat status last week. "Al Qaeda would very much relish another high-profile attack within the United States in which numerous U.S. citizens would be killed," Mr. Mueller told reporters at a luncheon meeting sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor. "We have disrupted their capability, but there are still persons out there who have that capability."

Gaming With an Opponent Who's 'Over There': "A collaboration between an Air Force command, Microsoft and the U.S.O. enables military personnel overseas to play video games with their families and friends at home."

Pentagon Studies Halliburton Pricing: "The Pentagon said on Wednesday itsinspector general was looking into a pricing "irregularity"related to fuel brought into Iraq by Vice President DickCheney's old firm Halliburton (HAL.N). (Reuters)"

USS Boxer Heads to Iraq for Second Trip: "Families watched their sailors and Marines leave for Iraq aboard the USS Boxer on Wednesday, in some cases just a few months after the troops' last deployment. (AP)"

Tests by Danish and American experts indicate there is no chemical warfare agent in mortar shells unearthed in southern Iraq, but conclusive word will only come from a lab in Idaho. Earlier examinations had indicated a blister agent was in the shells, which apparently date to the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. The U.S.-led Iraq Survey Group conducted tests on five of 36 shells found Friday and all came up negative, the Danish army said Wednesday in a statement from Copenhagen. Those results contradicted Danish and British field tests that were positive for a blister agent. "Based on the tests, the experts conclude that none of the shells contain chemical warfare agents," the Danish army statement said, adding that more studies are needed for final confirmation.

Rabbi defends blocking Israeli bulldozers: "Arik Ascherman is no stranger to the Israeli police. The American-born rabbi reckons he has been arrested at least 10 times in his battle against what he says are injustices against Palestinians."

O'Neill: I Took No Secret Papers: "The Treasury Dept. says classified documents may have been shown improperly in a 60 Minutes interview with former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill. O'Neill says all the papers were cleared by Treasury lawyers."

Canada: U.S. to Open Iraq Bids to More Countries: "The United States is shiftingits position on which countries will be allowed to bid for asecond round of major reconstruction contracts in Iraq and willallow Canadian firms to compete, a Canadian official said onTuesday. (Reuters)"

Shiite good will may be eroding in Iraq: "The good will of Iraq's Shiite majority, so crucial to the success of U.S. policy, may be eroding. Strong opposition by a top Shiite cleric to key parts of a U.S. political blueprint for Iraq and the spread of violent protests in Shiite areas suggest a dangerous trend."

Coalition tests Iraq shells for chemical: "An American-led group began testing 36 mortar shells unearthed last week in southern Iraq that may be filled with a liquid blister agent, Danish officials said Tuesday."

U.S. Copter Shot Down in Iraq; Crew Safe: "An Army Apache attack helicopter was shot down Tuesday, the third downed in less than two weeks, though the crew escaped unharmed. In Baghdad, U.S. troops reacting after a deadly roadside bomb shot at a car, killing its Iraqi driver and a 10-year-old boy, relatives said. (AP)"

Coalition Tests Iraq Shells for Chemical: "An American-led group began testing 36 mortar shells unearthed last week in southern Iraq that may be filled with a liquid blister agent, Danish officials said Tuesday. (AP)"

Shiite Good Will May Be Eroding in Iraq: "The good will of Iraq's Shiite majority, so crucial to the success of U.S. policy, may be eroding. Strong opposition by a top Shiite cleric to key parts of a U.S. political blueprint for Iraq and the spread of violent protests in Shiite areas suggest a dangerous trend. (AP)"

Flooding leaves thousands homeless: "Flooding in the southeast of Iraq has destroyed at least 180 homes and forced more than 8,000 people to flee in recent weeks, according to an international NGO working in the area. Two children may have died from water-borne diseases in Al-Fuhood district as a result of the crisis."

Iran gov't threatens to quit in vote feud: "Iran's reformist government has threatened to resign, and other reformers accused hard-liners Tuesday of treason for disqualifying candidates in next month's parliamentary elections."

U.S. troops kill Iraqi civilians, kin say: "U.S. soldiers opened fire at a car in Baghdad, killing the driver and a 10-year-old boy, moments after an Army vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb, relatives said Tuesday."

Hundreds Protest Woman's Arrest in Iraq: "Chanting anti-American slogans, hundreds of people demonstrated Tuesday to protest the arrest of a young woman in Fallujah, the third Iraqi city to explode in public anger against the U.S.-led occupation in as many days. (AP)"

O'Neill: I Took No Secret Papers: "The Treasury Dept. says classified documents may have been shown improperly in a 60 Minutes interview with former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill. O'Neill says all the papers were cleared by Treasury lawyers."

Canada: U.S. to Open Iraq Bids to More Countries: "The United States is shiftingits position on which countries will be allowed to bid for asecond round of major reconstruction contracts in Iraq and willallow Canadian firms to compete, a Canadian official said onTuesday. (Reuters)"

Shiite good will may be eroding in Iraq: "The good will of Iraq's Shiite majority, so crucial to the success of U.S. policy, may be eroding. Strong opposition by a top Shiite cleric to key parts of a U.S. political blueprint for Iraq and the spread of violent protests in Shiite areas suggest a dangerous trend."

Coalition tests Iraq shells for chemical: "An American-led group began testing 36 mortar shells unearthed last week in southern Iraq that may be filled with a liquid blister agent, Danish officials said Tuesday."

U.S. Copter Shot Down in Iraq; Crew Safe: "An Army Apache attack helicopter was shot down Tuesday, the third downed in less than two weeks, though the crew escaped unharmed. In Baghdad, U.S. troops reacting after a deadly roadside bomb shot at a car, killing its Iraqi driver and a 10-year-old boy, relatives said. (AP)"

Coalition Tests Iraq Shells for Chemical: "An American-led group began testing 36 mortar shells unearthed last week in southern Iraq that may be filled with a liquid blister agent, Danish officials said Tuesday. (AP)"

Shiite Good Will May Be Eroding in Iraq: "The good will of Iraq's Shiite majority, so crucial to the success of U.S. policy, may be eroding. Strong opposition by a top Shiite cleric to key parts of a U.S. political blueprint for Iraq and the spread of violent protests in Shiite areas suggest a dangerous trend. (AP)"

Flooding leaves thousands homeless: "Flooding in the southeast of Iraq has destroyed at least 180 homes and forced more than 8,000 people to flee in recent weeks, according to an international NGO working in the area. Two children may have died from water-borne diseases in Al-Fuhood district as a result of the crisis."

Iran gov't threatens to quit in vote feud: "Iran's reformist government has threatened to resign, and other reformers accused hard-liners Tuesday of treason for disqualifying candidates in next month's parliamentary elections."

U.S. troops kill Iraqi civilians, kin say: "U.S. soldiers opened fire at a car in Baghdad, killing the driver and a 10-year-old boy, moments after an Army vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb, relatives said Tuesday."

Hundreds Protest Woman's Arrest in Iraq: "Chanting anti-American slogans, hundreds of people demonstrated Tuesday to protest the arrest of a young woman in Fallujah, the third Iraqi city to explode in public anger against the U.S.-led occupation in as many days. (AP)"

"We're coming with a mighty force to end the reign of your
oppressors," Bush said, addressing Iraqis who might be
listening from afar. "We are coming to bring you food and
medicine and a better life. And we are coming and we will
not stop, we will not relent until your country is free."
We are very proud of you,Keep your helmet on!

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